Biz Briefs of the Week: July 26, 2012

SYB Announces Manager

Stock Yards Bank & Trust Company is pleased to announce that Charles Robello has joined Stock Yards Bank as Commercial Lending Relationship Manager at Stock Yards Trust Company, located at 1048 E. Main St. Mr. Robello has more than 16 years of experience in commercial lending and business banking and will add great value to Stock Yards Bank & Trust Company. He graduated from Bellarmine University with a Masters in Business Administration and holds a Bachelor’s of Science degree from Central Michigan University. Charles currently serves as Treasurer of the Family and Children’s Place, a not for profit organization that provides counseling services for abused children, individuals and families.

S.Y. Bancorp, Inc. was incorporated in 1988 as a bank holding company in Louisville, Ky. and is the parent company of Stock Yards Bank & Trust Company, which has thirty banking centers in Kentucky, Indiana and Ohio. Stock Yards Bank & Trust Company was established in 1904 in Louisville. Stock of S.Y. Bancorp, Inc. is traded on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol SYBT.

Swope Shows Military Appreciation

The Sam Swope Auto Group is giving away a car to show their appreciation for the men and women who are serving or have served in the United States Military. The contest has already received many touching entries from deserving Armed Forces’ members and those nominating them. The prize is a new 2012 Buick Verano (MSRP of $23,470), and all current or retired US military service people are eligible to win. The contest ends on Labor Day, Sept. 3, and the winner will be announced Sept. 5.

Visit SamSwopeCares.com to share stories of active or retired military service people and why they deserve a new car. Participants are able to nominate themselves or an individual may nominate someone who has served or is currently serving in the military. After submitting an entry on SamSwopeCares.com, participants are encouraged to send their family, friends, and fans to SamSwopeCares.com to vote for their entry. The winner will be chosen by a Sam Swope Auto Group panel out of the top 10 entries, determined by number of votes.

The Sam Swope Auto Group is owned by the Swope family of Louisville, Ky., and is comprised of 24 auto dealerships in Louisville and throughout the Commonwealth, with dealerships in Lexington, Radcliff, and Elizabethtown. Founded in 1952 by Sam Swope, it has grown to become the No. 1 new and used car dealer in the Kentuckiana region. Patti Swope manages the company as Chairman of the Board with Richard S. “Dick” Swope serving as President & CEO. For more information visit www.samswope.com.

UofL Offers NNp Program

With a positive national job outlook for advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) that care for critically ill infants, the University of Louisville School of Nursing has reintroduced the neonatal nurse practitioner (NNP) program. This is the school’s seventh major concentration for the master’s in nursing program. NNPs provide comprehensive care to high-risk infants, coordinating care among various specialists and team members. The UofL Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (NNP) track will prepare graduates to practice in level I-III neonatal intensive care units. The curriculum meets the National Association of Neonatal Nurses (NANN) educational standards and is approved by the National Certification Corporation (NCC).

HumanaVitality sponsors Half Marathon

The Louisville Sports Commission is proud to announce that HumanaVitality has signed on as presenting sponsor of the Louisville Sports Commission Half Marathon that will be held Nov. 3. This is the second year for the 13.1 mile trek, which showcases Louisville’s remarkable landmarks, food and live music. This year’s race is sponsored by an organization that is a leader in integrated wellness solutions which help individuals take the first step toward improving their well-being. The half marathon is also an opportunity for HumanaVitality members and the entire Louisville community to participate in an event that represents the value and importance of everyone working together to achieve healthier lifestyles.

The race is owned and operated by the Louisville Sports Commission. It will start in front of the KFC Yum! Center and follow a unique course that winds its way through the Scenic Loop in Cherokee Park and finishes on Main Street in front of the Belvedere. Participants can register online at www.lscmarathon.com. Registration is currently $65. More information is available online at www.facebook.com/humanavitality andwww.louisvillesports.org.

EDGE Outreach Becomes WaterStep

EDGE Outreach, an international organization that works to save lives at risk from waterborne illness around the world, announced today that it is changing its name to WaterStep, effective immediately. Since its founding in 2001, EDGE Outreach has provided safe drinking water for hundreds of thousands of people in developing communities and disaster areas in more than 23 countries. WaterStep’s approach to fight the world water crisis will continue to combine practical training with readily-available technology to empower self-sufficiency at the local level. The new name also establishes a direct connection to the organization’s primary financial support source, which is a shoe-recycling program that generates operating funds, while promoting micro-business opportunities and reducing landfill volume.

The new name and logo was developed pro bono by CurrentMarketing. WaterStep is currently pursuing an opportunity to relocate the organization’s headquarters to a new facility with more space in the coming months. For more information, call 502.568.6342 or visit www.waterstep.org.

UofL researcher wins grant

Qiutang Li, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences and the Kentucky Lions Eye Center at the University of Louisville, has received the Ernest & Elizabeth Althouse Scholar Award. The grant, issued in the amount of $75,000 by Research to Prevent Blindness (RPB), is awarded to support research into the causes, treatment and prevention of blinding diseases. RPB is the world’s leading voluntary organization supporting eye research. The award is part of RPB’s Special Scholar Program to support outstanding young scientists who conduct research of significance and promise. For information on RPB, RPB-funded research, eye disorders and the RPB Grants Program, go to www.rbpusa.org.

Li’s research focuses on the genes that regulate epithelial cells in the cornea, those cells that are found on the surface of the cornea, and the genetic signaling that occurs in corneal epithelium development and wound healing. The Kentucky Lions Eye Center is a multi-specialty ophthalmologic care center offering enrollment in clinical trials and the latest treatment options for diseases and conditions. For information visit www.louisvilleeyecare.com.